Overview
Health and Vitality in our Community (HViC)
The Health and Vitality in our Community (HViC) study seeks to better understand the individual and environmental factors that contribute to health, wellbeing and illness. We also seek to improve the performance of health research in general, with a particular focus on increasing value to participants and their communities.
We want to learn more about how various environmental, lifestyle, physical, genetic and other biological factors interact with one another, and how they influence health and wellbeing throughout the adult life course.
Considering a person’s own combination of these factors to better understand their unique experience of past, current and future health and wellbeing, and using that to both inform preventative health and treatment choices, is an approach called ‘precision medicine’. We are asking for volunteers to help us inform the future of precision medicine in Victoria.
How do I participate?
We invite all Victorian adults who would like to learn more about this study to register their interest in taking part. A researcher will be in touch to confirm your eligibility, and your willingness, to become a HViC study participant.
We will collect information, biological samples and direct measurements of participants’ health (including mental, oral and eye health), daily habits, body functions, mouth/gut bacteria and genes (ie, DNA) to develop a better understanding of what influences good health, wellbeing and disease.
This project is a strategic priority of the University of Melbourne, and particularly the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. The project is funded through the University, and via the Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund.
Head to 'About the study’ tab for detailed background information about the study.